Brown rising to new heights

THE rise of Ben Brown into a bona fide AFL star continues with Roos coach Brad Scott labelling the key forward a near complete player following his heroics in the demolition of Carlton.

Brown kicked five goals — four of which came in a rampaging first half — to go with 17 disposals (12 contested) and eight marks as he moved into second spot on the goalkicking table with 15 in the first four games.

While the wet and windy conditions at Blundstone Arena on Saturday night once would have cast doubt on the Tasmanian’s spot in the side, Scott said Brown’s evolution now enabled him to thrive in all circumstances. Brown’s chemistry with Jarrad Waite is also improving by the week, giving the Roos two big, mobile options going forward.

“‘Waity’ has always been a pretty tough opponent in all conditions because he is so versatile and he can get the ball multiple ways, he doesn’t just rely on lead and mark,” Scott said. “Browny is becoming a pretty complete player, I have said before he defends better than people give him credit for and everyone sees what he does well. But he is now finding multiple ways to get the ball, to be influential in all conditions.

“There probably would have been a time a couple of years ago where we might have left him out, just purely because it wasn’t a day for 200cm forwards. But he is impacting regardless of the conditions now.”

As impressive as Brown was deep against the Blues as he put battling Blues defender Liam Jones to the sword, he also showcased his improving tank by gathering further up the ground.

“We are trying to work on our flexibility forward … he is such a good contested mark, it is nice when he is marking it and kicking goals in the forward 50, but it is also pretty handy when he can give you a pressure kick out of defence and steady you up and start the next foray forward,” Scott said. “Like all the good players, you would like to have two or three of them.”